Rubio Warns Iran’s Economic Pain Will Intensify
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Tuesday that Iran’s economic troubles will worsen in the coming months. Speaking in Paris at the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting, Rubio said Iran’s oil revenues are set to decline sharply as sanctions take full effect.
“The economic pressure is going to get even worse,” Rubio stated. He explained that Iran’s remaining oil reserves, which bypassed restrictions during a brief ceasefire, are nearly depleted. “Once that dries up, almost all of their oil revenue will dry up,” he added.
Sanctions tighten as Iran seeks workarounds
Rubio highlighted ongoing efforts by the US Treasury Department and intelligence agencies to close loopholes Iran uses to evade sanctions. “There are other sanctions on Asian tools that they’re choosing,” Rubio said. “But Scott Bessent in the Treasury Department, working alongside our intelligence agencies and others, keeps closing those off,” he said.
The Secretary of State blamed Iran’s leadership for the country’s economic crisis. “So the economic pain that is being inflicted on Iran right now and on that regime is extraordinary, and it compounds…” he said. “It’s all brought about by the fact that this radical regime of lunatics is imposing this on their own people. They’re destroying their own country,” he added.
Diplomatic door remains open, but doubts persist
Rubio noted that the US remains open to a diplomatic deal but questioned Iran‘s commitment. Washington remained open to a diplomatic agreement but questioned Tehran’s seriousness about negotiations, calling the conditions it was putting forward absurd. “I think Iran would love a deal. The problem is the conditions they continue to place are absurd. They’re not even serious right now. But that could change… US always stands ready. If there’s a real deal to be done, we’re open,” he said.
He dismissed the idea that the situation will remain unchanged. “It’s not the status quo because the economic pain we’re imposing on Iran will get worse, not better. In essence, it’s going to continue to increase. It’s going to be worse for Iran in a month and in two months and in three months than it is now,” Rubio said.
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Rubio also criticized Iran’s demand for reparations, arguing that Tehran should be held responsible for “destabilising” the region. “Iran is demanding reparations. They should be the ones paying reparations because they’re the ones that have destabilised the region for long periods of time,” he added.
Iran, meanwhile, has issued its own warnings. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian Parliament Speaker, cautioned the US and other adversaries against miscalculations. He emphasized Iran’s readiness to respond to any military threat, highlighting the recent unveiling of a new missile facility.
The new missile facility is part of a broader strategy to enhance national security. Ghalibaf said the project demonstrates the country’s ability to advance its defense capabilities even under pressure. The facility belongs to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force.
Ghalibaf also praised the Iranian youth involved in developing the missile capability through indigenous knowledge and paid tribute to several deceased IRGC Aerospace Force commanders and personnel, including Hassan Tehrani-Moghaddam and Amir Ali Hajizadeh. He specifically commended General Seyyed Majid Mousavi, saying he had taken on significant responsibility during difficult circumstances and had become a source of encouragement for the Iranian people.
The Iranian Parliament Speaker further asserted that the unveiling of the missile facility demonstrated that the country would continue enhancing its defence capabilities even under pressure and threats. “The children of Iran, even under pressure, threats, and the fire of war, do not neglect the enhancement of the defence capability of our beloved Iran,” he said.
